Top Stories: Farming Labor Challenges & Pollinator Week

This week in our national news roundup, we learned that this week is National Pollinator Week! We also learned about a?climb in consumer food spending ?and?how spices get their flavor .?

There were also several farming policy and economy articles, along with an interesting article about?TikToker Hayden Fox . Let's dive in to see what the week had to offer!

Pollinator Week

During the week of June 19 – 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing National Pollinator Week through its continued commitment and support for pollinator health and research. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds, and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Read more about it in our?USDA Recognizes National Pollinator Week ?article.?

On the topic of pollinator week, a detailed, high-resolution map of the rusty patched bumble bee’s genome has been released by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) scientists, offering approaches for bringing the native pollinator back from the danger of extinction. Read more about it in our?A New Approach to Saving This Endangered Bee ?article.?

New Sensor Chip Detects Disease

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists and collaborators at Iowa State University have developed a sensor chip that can detect many disease pathogens with 10 times the sensitivity of currently available methods.

The chip also eliminates the need for chemical dye reagents typically used in the diagnostic process. The new technology shows promise for rapid, low-cost point-of-care diagnostic capabilities in plants, foods, animals, and humans, including detecting foodborne pathogens, bird flu, and COVID-19. Read more about it in our?New Sensor Chip Detects Everything From Late Blight to Bird Flu ?article.?

The Agrarian Revolution

We have recently created a?Write for Us ?page where you can submit your perspective on local and national agricultural topics. Enjoy the article:?Editorial: The Agrarian Revolution By Cally Hale ?and consider submitting your own!?

Agriculture Sustainability

The American Society of Agronomy will host the 6th Annual Sustainable Agronomy Conference in a virtual-event series that is free for everyone. The conference consists of sessions over four weeks starting on July 12th, with one two-hour session held each week. This conference provides CCAs, Agri-Sales Professionals, and growers with the opportunity to learn about the latest in-field, sustainable agronomic practices, and principles. Read more about it in our?2023 Sustainable Agronomy Conference Virtual-Event Series ?article.?

Also in the world of sustainability, researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by training farmers across the nation on climate-friendly agricultural practices. Read more about it in our?Researchers to Train Farmers on How to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Improve Soil Health ?article.?

Finally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program that establishes the biofuel volume requirements for 2023 to 2025. This final rule builds on the RFS program’s progress over the previous two years and reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s energy independence, advancing low-carbon fuels, and supporting agricultural communities. Read more about it in our?EPA Finalizes New Renewable Fuel Standards ?article.?

Crop World

As part of ongoing efforts to support growers and retailers doing the Biggest Job on Earth, BASF Agricultural Solutions has enhanced its university research partnerships to track weed resistance developments across the U.S., while also continuing to innovate new solutions to address the weed challenges of the future. Read more about it in our?BASF Tackles One of the Largest Threats for Corn Growers: HPPD Resistance ?article.?

In other news, A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows that carbon mitigation payments could increase net returns and reduce income risk, potentially enticing more farmers to grow these crops. You can read more about this in our?Carbon Mitigation Payments Can Make Bioenergy Crops More Appealing for Farmers ?article.?

Finally, a?new SARE bulletin ,?Transitioning to Organic Production,?explains how many farmers adopt organic production to increase profits while improving the resilience and environmental impact of their production systems. Long-term success requires patience, flexibility, good record-keeping, and a commitment to stewardship.

Cow World

As many parts of the US continue to face drought, farms and their nutritionists must make difficult decisions to help optimize performance under less-than-ideal circumstances. Research demonstrates that high-forage diets are optimal, with ideal feed efficiency. But circumstances out of farms’ control – such as lacking forage supplies or access to only drought-stricken forages, may force the implementation of a low-forage diet. Read more about it in our?Five Ways to Optimize a Low-Forage Diet for Success ?article.?

Farming Economy/Policy

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) released a joint statement after announcing the formation of the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, focusing on the workforce issues faced by the nation’s agricultural producers. Read their statement?here .?

Also, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, told a meeting of G20 Agriculture Ministers that agrifood systems must be part of the solution to the loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis facing our planet. Read more about it in our?FAO Director-General Addresses G20 Agriculture Ministers ?article.?

New With USDA?

As always, the USDA had a lot of news this week. For starters?Food Businesses Across Nation Get $320M Boost From USDA , the?USDA has partnered with NASA to advance exploration , and they unveiled?New Tool to Track Federally Funded Investments .?

Also, the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a $262.5 million investment in institutions of higher education to foster the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals across the nation. This NextGen program is funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to lower costs for American families, expand access to markets to producers from all backgrounds and communities, build a clean energy economy, and strengthen American supply chains. Read more about it in our?Inaugural NextGen Program Aims to Train Future Agricultural Professionals ?article.?

Finally, the USDA is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county committee members, who make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally. Read more about it in our?FSA Accepting Nominations for Farmers to Serve on Local County Committees ?article.?

Other Top Stories

American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) kick off the 15th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration? (AFMC) today—a significant milestone to celebrate the only annual ranking of the top farmer's markets in the United States as voted on by the public. Read more about it in our?15th Annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration: $15,000 in Prizes ?article.?

Hayden Fox, 25, uses TikTok to reach social media users who are unlikely to seek out agriculture-related content. Read more about it in our?Hayden Fox Uses TikTok to Hook Folks on Farming ?article.?

Finally,?NRCS Partners With the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’ ?to show the importance of working together to find the best ways to care for the land while growing delicious foods with optimum nutrition density.?

Come Back Next Week!

Be sure to check in next week for our weekly national news roundup and don't forget to follow us on all of our socials! We can't wait to see what the next week holds for agricultural news.